Helen Webb, chief HR officer, Co-op

She’s a member of the group executive, leading the HR function across the group to champion a better way of doing business for customers, members, colleagues and communities.

Initially joining the Co-op as HR director for the food business in January 2014, she has 29 years’ experience in retailing and financial services and has held senior positions at Morrisons, ASDA, Aviva, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s.

Webb has been involved in a number of large change programmes, including the integration of ASDA within Walmart, and led strategic projects including the creation of a global diversity strategy for Aviva. After six years as retail HR director at Sainsbury’s she was appointed as central retail director, where her broad accountabilities included improving ways of working and store profitability. As HR director for Co-op Food she developed and led the people strategy for more than 60,000 colleagues in stores, logistics and support centres.

Webb is also a non-executive director on the board of Housing for Women; a housing association and charity that provides homes and services to empower women to make the most of the opportunities they have. She’s also chair of the British Retail Consortium HR Directors Forum and a member of the Business in the Community Action Group on age. She’s passionate about diversity and is a strong women’s advocate, winning an ‘Everywoman Retail Ambassador’ award in 2015.

Webb has a degree in politics, is a qualified member of the CIPD, and is a visiting fellow of The University of Birmingham Business School.